1906ds 's review for:

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

3.0

dark funny fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This play is anti-Semetic. But also this play has some criticism of Christianity, which I found interesting. Shylock and Portia are the two show stoppers here; Shylock cries for sympathy (“I am a Jew… Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is?), while Portia calls out for mercy (“We do pray for mercy, and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy.”) What stands out to me is that both these characters want their sympathy/mercy done in terrible ways: Shylock is monomaniacle in his quest for a pound of flesh, even if it kills a man, while Portia allows for Antonio to force Shylock to convert from Judaism to Christianity. The Christian version of mercy in this play includes forcing someone to give up their roots of their beliefs. This all culminates in Shylock’s departure from the stage with two lines that cast a deep shadow over the remaining act: “I am content… I am not well.” 

The other source of morality in this play comes from the good Christian, Antonio. He mortgages a pound of his flesh for his best friend, he’s willing to die for him, but at the same time, he openly kicks and spits on Shylock, his fellow man. Is this the appropriate display of “Christian mercy” Shakespeare’s audience may have been looking for?

This play was easy to read, funny at times, but deeply disturbing in content. I think it takes an incredible director to produce this play in current times, and maybe the text lends itself to some clever editing or omissions.